First Step for Business Expansion
Originally, he'd planned to treat him like a sucker and fleece him for all he was worth.
But after exchanging a few words with Taesangnogun, he changed his mind.
Surprisingly obedient. Easy to manipulate.
So why not?
Time to dream big.
The Sen Realm was an independent dimension, but in another sense, it wasn't.
It was one of many worlds separated from the human realm: the Cheon Realm, Hwangcheon Realm, Yeorae Realm, and so on.
Taesangnogun represented the Sen Realm.
The Cheon Realm had the Supreme Emperor, Hwangcheon had Yeomra, Yeorae had Sakyamuni.
The realms interacted and communicated with each other.
They could come and go within permitted bounds.
With the multiplex built, Dang Gunak couldn't settle for Sen Realm business alone.
The Cheon Realm teemed with mountain spirits, earth spirits, dragon spirits, celestial nymphs, and divine generals.
Hwangcheon had judges, grim reapers, and lion guardians.
How many potential customers was that?
Never mind the Yeorae Realm—those folks had no material desires.
The problem? The realms were divided, so word didn't spread easily.
Few visitors from other realms showed up.
Just the occasional divine general or Hwangcheon's Kangrim.
He needed more customers.
So Dang Gunak decided to use Taesangnogun as an advertising model.
As the Sen Realm's face, Taesangnogun frequented the Cheon Realm, Hwangcheon, and Yeorae Realm. Wide network, lots of connections.
"Since you're here, Taesangnogun, could I trouble you for a signed autograph?"
"···Autograph? What's that?"
Dang Gunak pointed to the paper on the wall behind the bar.
"Something like this."
"Heavens."
Blessings like these?
No harm in it.
"Very well. Fetch inkstone, ink, and brush."
"Inkstone and brush? Why would I need those?"
"···Hm? Then what do you use?"
Swoosh!
Dang Gunak pulled out paper and a fountain pen, handing them to Taesangnogun.
"It's called a fountain pen. Write with this."
"···Heavens."
"Open the cap like this and write on the paper···"
"I-I'll give it a try."
Taesangnogun took the pen and wrote on the white paper.
Scribble, scribble, scriiibble!
'Huh?'
Why did it feel so smooth?
The pen glided effortlessly.
Aaah!
The exquisite sensation at his fingertips.
No need to dip in ink.
He wanted to write more, but Juseon snatched the paper and stuck it on the wall.
Taesangnogun looked wistful.
"Want it? This fountain pen."
"···I've never craved material things, but this pen... I covet it."
"Then it's yours."
"T-Truly?"
"And this, too."
Dang Gunak pulled a watch from his infinite storage and strapped it on Taesangnogun's wrist.
Click!
"Gasp! Th-This is that thing I've only heard of···"
"A treasure that tells time."
Taesangnogun was beside himself.
"I'll repay you properly. I'll send a celestial peach via someone."
But Dang Gunak's offensive was just beginning.
"Hahaha! It's a gift. Besides, we don't trade in celestial peaches here—we use credit cards··· Oh, right! Here's one for you. Loaded with 50,000 seondo coins. Spend freely."
Taesangnogun's eyes filled with questions.
"Dokseon, why are you being so generous?"
"Because you're the face of our Sen Realm."
"Hmm···"
He couldn't fathom the real reason.
They weren't even close before.
There'd been discord at the judge's scales trial.
Unfazed, Dang Gunak pressed on shamelessly.
"Tsk tsk. That robe with a wristwatch and fountain pen? Doesn't suit."
"Wh-What's wrong with my robe? Celestial nymphs of Cheon Realm stitched it with care."
"Follow me."
He led Taesangnogun to the second-floor mall.
"Hmm, this should fit perfectly."
Dang Gunak held a suit from the rack against him.
"Th-This is clothing too?"
"Indeed. Immortals look sharp in suits. Only then do the watch and pen reveal their true value."
"Oh my."
Taesangnogun was already half-sold.
He changed into the suit as instructed.
"Got shoes for you too. Perfect fit."
Even loafers.
"Now, mirror."
In front of the full-length mirror Taeju sent.
"Much better. As expected of luxury—lives up to the name."
Sleek black jacket hugging the body, slim tapered pants, watch peeking from cuffs.
Even Taesangnogun approved.
Something about it clicked.
A hundred times better than the baggy robe.
"Eh, but the hair and beard don't fit."
"H-Hair?"
"Let's fix it."
"What? My hair? Why?"
"Trust me. It'll suit you better."
Taesangnogun had no fight left.
"Hey, Geomseon!"
Geomseon came down from upstairs gaming.
"You called? ···Heavens, who's this stylish immortal? Oh, Taesangnogun."
"Groom his hair and beard."
"Got it."
Geomseon inspected closely.
"Short cut for the hair. Beard too."
He took the Yu Yeop Bi Do Dang Gunak handed him and approached.
Snip—topknot gone.
"Wh-What?"
Snip, snip, snip···
Neat trim, side part, clean-shaven, and finally, sunglasses for the finishing touch.
"Perfect."
Thus, Taesangnogun transformed into a dapper elder.
A fashion icon in his twilight years.
Even on Earth, few gentlemen matched this vibe.
Why go this far?
All for Taeju.
Earth was a freak show.
Even more than Sen, Cheon, or Hwangcheon.
Sudden mana invasion, affected awakeners, Beyond Elite Monsters, the System, soul-linked ones like Taeju and Cheon Kyung-ho.
'Even the Heavenly Demon might be nothing.'
Taeju needed to grow stronger.
Sen Realm support alone might not cut it.
Celestial peaches represented Sen resources.
Cheon and Hwangcheon had equivalents.
He needed those precious assets.
To do that, Earth's novelties had to spread far.
Well-connected Taesangnogun would handle it.
'Now, just wait.'
Thus, the first step toward business expansion was taken.
※ ※ ※
Paju Territory.
Suddenly Paju branch manager of Taehong Bio, Jeong Yeonhui was swamped in her hectic routine.
New Seoul's Choi Dongil and Ma Seokwoo came personally to help, and without Baek Seoyeonn dispatching staff from Gurye, she'd have collapsed already.
Her grandfather, Baekdu Group's Jeong Ukcheol, helped too—via phone, not in person.
"Doesn't Baekdu have branches everywhere? Just hire talent."
"Monastic? ···I'll return to the group later."
"Grandfather!!!"
"Wh-Who?"
Click.
'Was I fired?'
And "grab him"?
She got the meaning, but for a lifelong solo at her age, it wasn't easy.
The company structure was shaping up.
Taehong Bio's Paju factory neared completion.
Five times New Seoul's size—the output of Vitality Surge and Fresh Flesh Growth would exceed imperial demand.
Time to push exports.
Days blurred by; soon, sunset.
Her Bokma Swordsmanship training time.
Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri: oversaw Kim Taeju's disciples from Gurye.
Two per day, eight total rotating through Paju to train with her.
Fri-Sat-Sun: hers alone.
Jeong Yeonhui sweated buckets in the lord's manor training room, drilling Bokma Swordsmanship.
She didn't know the video's speaker, but the martial demo was incredibly detailed.
She hit 50% on Bokma fast, but stalled at the sixth form.
Too hard alone.
Needed a sparring partner for sword-on-sword.
Who, though?
Kim Taeju didn't use swords.
Disciples too slow; Ryu Jincheol the Fifth Prince? Couldn't dare ask.
Her biggest headache.
Nothing for it—drill forms harder.
Then!
The training room door opened.
"Yeonhui-ssi?"
"Ah! Chairman!"
Taeju admired her sweat-soaked form again.
Talent plus effort.
"Oh! How'd it go?"
"Handled fine. No mine."
"···Phew, good."
Jeong Yeonhui sighed in relief.
But Taeju wasn't alone.
Two men followed.
"This the training room?"
"Tsk tsk, too shabby. What's the point of money? Redo the interior."
"Rebuild the manor. So rundown, ghosts'll haunt it."
Her eyes shook violently.
She knew them.
Emperor Ryu Taehyeon and Geum Suhu.
Why here?
So casual with Kim Taeju?
'What do I do?'
Frozen, she floundered, then knelt instantly.
"Your Majesty! I greet you. I'm Taehong Bio Paju branch manager···"
"Ah! Rise. No formal occasion—skip the ceremony."
"I am honored."
"Jeong Ukcheol's granddaughter?"
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty."
"Hahaha, unlike Ukcheol, you've got talent. Practicing skills, I see."
Why they'd come: Geum Suhu for Seo Pilmyeong, Emperor for youngest son Ryu Jincheol.
Excuses, really.
Hated returning to the palace.
Geum Suhu, post-meeting:
"Eh, Pilmyeong's face lit up. Loves it out here? Damn guy—I spoiled him rotten."
Emperor too:
"Youngest is youngest. Clung and wailed··· Youngest are cutest, but can't revoke an imperial decree."
Geum Suhu clucked sympathetically.
"Tsk tsk, told you not to marry."
"···Better than a stinky bachelor."
"I prefer freedom."
"Don't confuse freedom with loneliness."
"Not lonely."
Their banter filled the room.
Why not go home?
They had business with her, but then—
A signal in her head.
Bzzzzt!
Delivery.
'Now of all times···'
Had to step out.
"Excuse me, stomachache—bathroom break."
"Go on. Relieve yourself. We'll chat."
"Yes."
Aaah!
Bathroom check again.
How many times now?
En route, she withdrew from shared storage, refilled, entered an empty bathroom, locked.
Checked Dang Gunak's package.
'Huh?'
Shared storage: one sub-space bag, air-account smartphone.
'What?'
No usual celestial peach.
Failed again?
Taeju checked the bag first.
Four boxes inside.
'What's this?'
Opened one.
"Ugh!"
Overpowering poison stench.
Mind-numbing.
This potent?
And—
Wriggle!
"Whoa!"
Poison core reacted to the scent alone.
Read the note in the box.
'···Human-Faced Spider?'
◈ Extracted from the mythical giant spider yokai with a human face.
'M-My god!'
Shock nearly floored him.
Opened the rest.
Ten-Thousand-Year Poison Wasp gland, poison from molded Poison Horn Net pills, refined crane spirit's crimson bile.
'Insane.'
Sent all this?
To Taeju, worth more than peaches.
'Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong 10th stage is guaranteed.'
Never dreamed of Sen Realm poisons.
Tears of gratitude.
Each note detailed dosage and order.
'How to reciprocate?'
Checked the smartphone.
'Video too?'
Expected poison or Sen daily life.
Wrong.
Beyond imagination.
As the video played, Taeju's face hardened.
'Uh··· Heavenly Demon?'
'How···?'
Not Murim's Heavenly Demon.
Earth's.
Barunsi Mill Farm's lord—he was the Heavenly Demon.
Soul-linked to Infinite Hell's true one.
Then?
'Hunt him.'
After mastering Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong first.